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Securing Household Income among Small-scale Farmers in Kakamega District: Possibilities and Limitations of Diversification

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  • Dose, Henriette

Abstract

In the debate of sustainable rural livelihoods, diversification is seen as a way to secure incomes and to increase food security. On the basis of a data set on income security, this paper analyses to what extent this applies to small-scale farmers in Kakamega District, Kenya. Using the sustainable rural livelihoods approach, this paper draws the conclusion, that (1) diversification in agricultural production is not sufficient for securing rural livelihoods in Kakamega District; (2) a sufficient income diversification depends heavily on requirements like access to education, infrastructure, as well as investment capital; and (3) small-scale farmers in Kakamega District in most cases lack these requirements, therefore not being able to achieve secure household incomes or increased food security.

Suggested Citation

  • Dose, Henriette, 2007. "Securing Household Income among Small-scale Farmers in Kakamega District: Possibilities and Limitations of Diversification," GIGA Working Papers 41, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:41
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Woldenhanna, T. & Oskam, A., 2001. "Income diversification and entry barriers: evidence from the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 351-365, August.
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    4. Lanjouw, Peter & Quizon, Jaime & Sparrow, Robert, 2001. "Non-agricultural earnings in peri-urban areas of Tanzania: evidence from household survey data," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 385-403, August.
    5. H. Freeman & F. Ellis & E. Allison, 2004. "Livelihoods and Rural Poverty Reduction in Kenya," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 22(2), pages 147-171, March.
    6. Smith, Davd Rider & Gordon, Ann & Meadows, Kate & Zwick, Karen, 2001. "Livelihood diversification in Uganda: patterns and determinants of change across two rural districts," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 421-435, August.
    7. Abigail M. Barr, 2002. "The Functional Diversity and Spillover Effects of Social Capital," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 11(1), pages 90-113, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christophe Béné & Richard M. Friend, 2011. "Poverty in small-scale fisheries," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 11(2), pages 119-144, April.
    2. Nzabakenga, Alfred & Feng, Luo Xiao & Yaqin, He, 2013. "Agricultural Income Determinants among Smallholder Farmers: Case of Northern Part of Burundi," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society (AESS), vol. 3(11), pages 1-8, November.
    3. Winter, Etti Maria & Fasse, Anja, 2009. "Food Security, Energy Equity, and the Global Commons: a Computable Village Model applied to sub-Saharan Africa," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 51683, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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